7 months ago
Five arrested in Virginia drug, sex trafficking case
Five people, including a couple from India, were arrested in Virginia for running a drug and sex trafficking operation at a motel called Red Carpet Inn.
The couple, Kosha and Tarun Sharma, along with three others, were accused of making money from illegal activities happening on the third floor of the motel.
Police conducted several undercover operations to buy drugs and catch people involved in prostitution.
The authorities are working together to stop these crimes and punish the people responsible.
If found guilty, the suspects could go to jail for at least 10 years.
Five individuals, including an Indian-origin couple, were arrested for drug and sex trafficking at the Red Carpet Inn in Dumfries, Virginia.
The Sharma couple leased and operated the motel, profiting from illegal activities on the third floor.
Law enforcement conducted nine prostitution encounters and 15 controlled drug purchases, including fentanyl and cocaine, between May 2023 and December 2025.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, Prince William County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police.
If convicted, the suspects could face a mandatory minimum jail term of 10 years.
- Who
- Five individuals, including an Indian-origin couple, Kosha Sharma and Tarun Sharma, and three others: Margo Waldon Pierce, Joshua Roderick, and Rashard Perrish Smith
- What
- Arrests for alleged drug and sex trafficking at the Red Carpet Inn motel
- Where
- Dumfries, Virginia, at the Red Carpet Inn motel
- When
- The suspects were produced in court on Friday, with illegal activities occurring between May 2023 and December 2025
- Why
- To dismantle criminal enterprises involved in drug and sex trafficking and hold offenders accountable
Key facts
- Location
- Dumfries, Virginia
- Motel Name
- Red Carpet Inn
- Indian-origin Couple
- Kosha Sharma (52) and Tarun Sharma (55)
- Other Suspects
- Margo Waldon Pierce (51), Joshua Roderick (40), Rashard Perrish Smith (33)
- Charges
- Drug and sex trafficking
- Investigating Agencies
- FBI, Prince William County Police Department, Virginia State Police
- Potential Sentence
- Mandatory minimum of 10 years in jail
Quotes
Lindsey Halligan
US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia
“Drug trafficking and sex trafficking devastate communities by exploiting vulnerable individuals and fueling violence and addiction. Our office is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises that profit from human suffering. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold offenders accountable and disrupt the cycles of exploitation that threaten our communities.”
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Reid Davis
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division
“These arrests stem from a joint investigation between the FBI, the Prince William County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police. I want to thank our partners for the investigative work they have done to further this investigation and to support one of our top priorities — combating violent crime. The FBI will continue to collaborate with federal and local law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug and sex trafficking rings and bring traffickers to justice.”
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